Should you make the switch from coffee to oolong tea? If you’re a regular coffee drinker, oolong tea may offer a few benefits.
Oolong tea and coffee can both promote alertness, but there are major differences between the two beverages. Oolong tea contains antioxidants that may boost metabolism and support the immune system. Compared to coffee, oolong tea is often harder to find and has less caffeine.
These are just a few of the differences between oolong tea and coffee. So, which is better for you? Let’s take a closer look.
Oolong Tea
First, what’s oolong tea? It’s a category of tea that includes blends with tea oxidation levels of 20% to 60%
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The oxidation level is lower compared to black tea and higher compared to green tea. It’s right in the middle of the spectrum, from light to dark.
Oolong teas, or oolongs, mostly originated from China and Taiwan. They’re known for offering a diverse range of flavors. You can find blends with flavors ranging from fruity and floral to woody and toasty.
Thanks to the variety of options, you can find an oolong tea blend that matches your tastes.
Coffee
Coffee, as you likely know, is brewed from roasted seeds. The coffee beans are available whole or pre-ground. You can also choose from a wide variety of coffee plants, blends, and brewing methods.
From drip coffeemakers to fancy espresso makers and French presses, coffee can be prepared in endless ways. It’s also available in caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties. However, most people drink coffee for the caffeine.
As with black tea, coffee is often paired with milk or sugar. You could also use coffee creamers or simply drink it black.
Oolong Tea vs. Coffee
Oolong tea and coffee are both beverages that you may drink for a little pick-me-up in the morning or early afternoon. Yet, there are some major differences between the two. Here’s what you should know.
Origin and Cultivation
Oolong tea and coffee come from completely different plants. Oolong tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. It’s a hardy shrub used for all types of tea, including black, green, and white.
The history of oolong tea goes back hundreds of years to ancient China. It was created during the Ming Dynasty in the Fujian province. It’s now produced in other parts of China, along with Taiwan, Japan, and India.
As mentioned, oolong tea includes partially oxidized tea leaves. Basically, the leaves are exposed to oxygen and gradually turn brown. Roasting the leaves stops the oxidation process.
Green tea leaves are roasted soon after harvesting to minimize oxidation, while black tea leaves are allowed to oxidize longer. With oolong tea, you get more of a balance, which helps bring out all the flavors.
Oolong tea leaves are also bruised during the harvesting process. This helps with the oxidation process. After roasting, the leaves are twisted or rolled, which helps distinguish it from other categories of tea.
Coffee originated in another part of the world. Coffee plants are native to Ethiopia, where the beans were first harvested for making a beverage. By the 1600s, coffee had spread to Europe.
Coffee beans are now harvested around the globe in tropical and subtropical regions. Along with Ethiopia, some of the biggest producers of coffee are found in Colombia, Brazil, Sumatra, Indonesia, and India.
The coffee plant is a bush-like plant. Coffee beans are actually seeds from the fruit of the plant. After the fruit is ripe, the seeds are collected.
The fruit is either sun-dried or washed to extract the seeds. The seeds, or beans, are then dried, sorted, and roasted.
Taste and Aroma
The diversity of flavors is something that coffee and oolong tea have in common. You can choose from an endless list of coffee varieties and oolong tea blends.
However, coffee and oolong tea have distinct flavor profiles due to their different origins and processing methods.
Coffee is rich and often has a robust flavor. The tastes can range from bitter and earthy to fruity and slightly acidic. The flavor depends on the coffee bean variety, roast level, and brewing method.
The aroma of coffee can also vary wildly between different blends. You may notice notes of roasted nuts, chocolate, or floral undertones.
Oolong tea has a more nuanced and diverse flavor range. The taste can vary from floral and fruity to woody and toasty. The degree of oxidation impacts the flavor profile, appearance, and aromas.
Lighter oolongs more closely resemble the flavor of green tea. Darker oolongs may taste and smell a little more like black tea.
Some of my favorite blends strike a balance between the lighter and darker varieties. You can get a more delicate and varied taste with a complex, fragrant aroma.
Basically, coffee is bold and robust, while oolong tea is lighter and more complex. If you find that coffee is too strong for your tastes, you may prefer oolong tea.
Caffeine
Coffee and oolong tea both have caffeine, but coffee has more. A single cup of coffee has about 80 to 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.
While you can buy decaffeinated coffee, people typically order a cup of joe for the caffeine. Caffeine is naturally found in the leaves, fruit, and beans of coffee plants.
The Camellia sinensis (tea) plant also has caffeine. The leaves contain about 3% caffeine by weight.
Depending on the blend, you may get 30 to 60 mg of caffeine per serving of oolong tea.
The FDA currently recommends that healthy adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Teens should limit their intake to 100 mg or less.
If you’re worried about your caffeine consumption, oolong tea may be a smart choice. You need to drink about two to three cups of oolong tea to get the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.
Health Benefits
What you really want to know is whether oolong tea is healthier than coffee. The truth is that drinking tea may offer a few extra health benefits.
Coffee and oolong tea are both good sources of antioxidants. Consuming more antioxidants can help protect cells in your body from damage caused by free radicals. This could help with healthy aging and reduce your risk of various diseases.
Coffee and oolong tea may also boost your mental alertness. Both beverages have caffeine, which can increase concentration and alertness. However, as oolong tea has less caffeine, it’s less likely to cause jittery effects.
Studies show that oolong tea may also help with weight loss and weight management. Polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant, may increase your metabolism and promote fat oxidation. You can burn more calories, which may help you shed some fat.
There are also a few considerations when discussing the health benefits of oolong tea and coffee. For example, both beverages contribute to your daily fluid intake, but water should still be your main source of hydration.
Brewing Techniques
Oolong tea and coffee involve different brewing processes. Both beverages also give you access to several brewing techniques. With oolong tea, the most common brewing methods include basic infusion and Gongfu Cha.
Basic infusion requires a teapot. You first heat the water to a temperature of about 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is just under the boiling point for water, which is 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and remove it from the burner. Let it cool for a minute or two before pouring a small amount into your teapot. Swirl the water around and then pour it out. This helps preheat the teapot, reducing the risk of cracking from the sudden presence of hot water.
Next, add your tea leaves or tea bag. Pour the hot water on top and steep for three to five minutes. After steeping, serve the tea. You can add sugar, honey, or lemon for sweetness, but I find that it’s already sweet enough for my tastes.
The Gongfu Cha tea brewing method is a traditional Chinese method that involves multiple short infusions in a smaller teapot. After steeping the leaves, you strain the tea and repeat the process several times.
Coffee can also be prepared using multiple brewing methods, including drip brewing. The most common way to prepare coffee is with an automatic drip coffeemaker. You add water to a water reservoir and coffee grounds to a filtered basket.
After you turn on the coffeemaker, a heating element heats the water. The boiling water rises and collects in the basket with the coffee grounds. The brewed coffee gradually drips from the bottom of the basket into the coffee pot.
Keep in mind that these are just the most common brewing techniques for oolong tea and coffee. You could also use a tea infuser to prepare oolong tea or choose from a long list of brewing techniques to prepare coffee.
Cost and Convenience
Demand for coffee is much higher compared to demand for oolong tea, leading to more coffee products on the shelves. You should have no problem finding a coffee variety, while oolong tea is sometimes more difficult to find.
Due to the size of the coffee industry, there is no shortage of affordable coffee. Oolong tea may cost you a little more.
However, there are also expensive coffee blends. You can find options for any price point.
As for convenience, coffee is arguably more convenient. It’s available at more locations and is typically easier to prepare. If you have a drip coffee maker or another type of automatic coffee maker, you can simply add water and coffee grounds to start brewing.
Brewing a good cup of tea requires a little more work and attention. You need to get the water temperature right and time the steeping process.
If you just want a quick caffeine-filled drink, coffee is likely the way to go.
Cultural Relevance
Oolong tea and other varieties of tea are important culturally and socially. In many regions, serving tea is standard practice for greeting visitors. There are also many ceremonial aspects to tea.
Oolong tea remains a central part of many traditional Chinese tea ceremonies. These ceremonies focus on the art of preparing and enjoying tea. Sharing oolong tea is also a social ritual and a gesture of hospitality and respect, particularly in the parts of China and Taiwan where the tea leaves are cultivated.
Coffee also has strong cultural relevance around the globe. It has deep roots in various societies and countries, from Brazil and Ethiopia to the United States. In many areas, serving coffee is a normal social interaction. As with tea, it’s standard for many households to prepare a pot of coffee when guests arrive.
Coffee breaks have become commonplace in many cultures. During the workday, you may get a lunch break and several smaller coffee breaks. These shorter breaks give workers a chance to recharge and socialize.
The bottom line is that coffee and oolong tea hold immense cultural significance in many parts of the world. Depending on where you live, drinking tea or coffee may be part of your daily routine.
Conclusion
When comparing coffee and oolong tea, both options have separate strengths. Coffee has more caffeine, which is great if you need help waking up in the morning or need to quickly reenergize in the afternoon.
Coffee also has a more robust flavor. It’s more comparable to black tea.
While some people drink black coffee, many people add extra ingredients. You can pour in some milk and sugar for flavoring. Oolong tea is typically served as-is – or with a little honey or lemon juice.
Oolong tea has a little less caffeine per serving but enough for a jolt of energy. Switching to oolong tea may even help you cut down on caffeine if you currently drink too much coffee.
So, coffee and oolong tea are vastly different drinks, other than their ability to wake you up and keep you focused. Yet, oolong tea can get the job done with less caffeine and more antioxidants.
In the end, oolong tea could be considered a healthier alternative to coffee.